Method of television program suggestion and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus provide a television viewer with relevant program suggestions while the viewer browses an electronic program guide (EPG). A viewer profile is used in conjunction with the viewer&#39;s usage of the EPG as a basis for program suggestions. In this way, relevant program suggestions may be provided, and optionally displayed within a picture-in-picture window on the screen of a television.

The present invention relates to a method of television programsuggestion and an apparatus for carrying out the method, the methodrelating particularly to a method of television program suggestion basedon a viewer's usage of an electronic program guide (EPG).

As the number of television channels available to viewers increases, itbecomes increasingly difficult for a viewer to find programs ofinterest. EPGs can help to overcome this problem by displaying upcomingprograms grouped according to particular genres, channels, time slotsetc. A number of more sophisticated methods of television programsuggestion are known and generally display suggestions to viewersthrough an EPG, with suggestions based on a viewer profile. The viewerprofile contains information relating to a viewer's interests and may begenerated according to interest information obtained either explicitlyby a viewer entering preferences, or implicitly from aspects of viewerbehavior.

The patent document WO 00/04708 discloses a method of television programsuggestion using information relating to a program a viewer is currentlywatching to make the suggestions. This can be described as acontext-sensitive suggestion method, the context for the suggestionsbeing given by information relating to the currently watched program.

Methods of television program suggestion using information relating tothe program a viewer is currently watching are necessarily limited tosuggesting program in some way related to the currently watched program,i.e. the current context, but a viewer may require program suggestionsif the currently watched program is not relevant to the viewer'sinterests. Limiting to suggestions based on the current program mayprovide a too narrow range of program suggestions.

It is an object of preferred embodiments of the present invention toprovide a method of television program suggestion based on a viewer'susage of an EPG which provides context-sensitive suggestions of programswithout the limitations described above.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodof television program suggestion, which method is characterized in thatthe program suggestions provided are based on a profile of the viewer'sinterests and a viewer's current location in an EPG structure.

Supplying context-based suggestions rather than simply suggestions basedon viewer profile alone ensures that a more focussed suggestion can begiven, which is more likely to meet with the viewer's actual viewingpreferences at that time.

Preferably, program choices which are directly accessible from thecurrent location and closely correlate with viewer preferences from theprofile are suggested to the viewer.

Suitably, a first suggestion provided to the viewer is a program choicefrom the current location having a closest correlation with the viewerpreferences.

The viewer's current location in an EPG structure may comprise:

-   (i) an information location relating to a particular channel, in    which case program suggestions are provided on a priority basis from    this channel;-   (ii) an information location relating to a particular time slot, in    which case program suggestions are provided on a priority basis from    this time slot;-   (iii) an information location relating to a particular program    genre, in which case program suggestions are provided on a priority    basis from this program genre or a sub set of this program genre; or    any other suitable information location.

Suitably, the program suggestions provided are updated whenever aviewer's location in an EPG structure changes.

Suitably, the program suggestions provided are displayed in apicture-in-picture window specifically for displaying programsuggestions. However, the program suggestions may be displayed byhighlighting relevant programs in an existing EPG window. If no relevantprograms can be identified, no suggestions are displayed.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided anapparatus for carrying out the method of the first aspect of theinvention, said apparatus comprising an EPG; an interface to enable aviewer to change locations in the EPG; a stored profile of viewerpreferences; a receiver to receive signals including television programsand information relating to television programs; and means for providingprogram suggestions based on the viewer's current location in the EPGand the preferences in the stored profile.

Preferably, the EPG stores the information relating to televisionprograms and provides the information relating to television programs tothe means for providing program suggestions.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided atelevision display apparatus incorporating the apparatus of the secondaspect and a display capable of displaying the received signals,information from the EPG and provided program suggestions.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodimentsof the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, byway of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart illustrating a method according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a television display apparatus incorporating apparatus forcarrying out the method of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3E show examples of screen displays provided to a viewer usingan EPG featuring a program suggestion function according to the presentinvention.

Illustrative steps involved in providing a method of television programsuggestion according to the present invention are shown in FIG. 1. Uponentering an EPG structure and a context-based program suggestionfunction, the procedure of FIG. 1 is initiated, in step 10. At any pointafter this, the process may be terminated by a jump directly to step 24by exiting the context-based program suggestion function. Step 12involves the accessing of a viewer profile. The viewer profile may bestored locally to the equipment carrying out the method, or may bealternatively provided from a remote database. After the viewer profilehas been accessed, knowledge regarding the content of upcoming programsis acquired in step 14. The metadata is broadcast along with the EPGsignals. Next, the EPG context is determined in step 16. The EPG contextcomprises a location in an EPG structure that a viewer is currentlybrowsing. For example, the viewer may browse through programs beingshown at a particular time, programs being shown on a particular channelor by particular types of channels (for example, music channels, sportschannels, movie channels, etc). In step 18, the viewer profile, EPGcontext and knowledge of forthcoming programs are used to providerelevant program suggestions to a viewer. In this step, the EPG contextis correlated with viewer profile so as to present and displaysuggestions which are targeted toward a close correlation between thecontext and the profile. In step 19, it is determined if the context haschanged. If the context has not changed, the method proceeds to step 20,otherwise the process returns to step 16. In step 20, if one of thesuggested programs is selected, the method proceeds to step 22 wherethat selected program is displayed and then to step 24 where the processends. In step 20, if no program is judged to have been selected, theprocess returns to step 18.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an embodiment for carrying out the presentinvention. The apparatus shown in FIG. 2 comprises a television displayapparatus 300. A television broadcast signal is received by thetelevision display apparatus 300 at aerial 30. The television broadcastsignal may comprise a digital or analog signal, and may be broadcast byterrestrial, satellite, cable or other suitable techniques. The signalreceived at aerial 30 is fed to the demodulation/tuner block 32. Thedemodulation/tuner block 32 feeds a video signal to a video mixer 34.The video signal output by the demodulation/tuner block 32 comprises aparticular television channel. The video mixer 34 is directly coupled toan optical output device 36, which may be, for example, a cathode raytube or any other suitable apparatus.

The demodulation/tuner block 32 extracts EPG information included in thebroadcast signal and feeds this information to EPG block 38. The EPGinformation fed to EPG block 38 comprises both information onforthcoming programs in a video format to be fed to video mixer 34before display on optical output device 36 when a viewer is using an EPGfunction, but also metadata concerning forthcoming TV programs that canbe fed to a suggestion engine 46 when the viewer requires context-basedprogram suggestions. The metadata is stored in an EPG database 39 afterits extraction from the television broadcast signal. In the televisiondisplay apparatus 300 of FIG. 2, a user profile is stored in profileblock 44, but the user profile may be alternatively stored remotely. Theinformation contained in profile block 44 may be acquired through anysuitable technique, such as explicit feedback from a viewer's responseto a questionnaire, by a user selecting a lifestyle stereotype or by anyform of implicit feedback from viewer activity statistics.

A viewer controls the operation of the television display apparatus 300by using a remote control unit 40. The remote control unit producesinfrared signals when operated by a viewer, although other controldevices can be envisaged by persons skilled in the art. The infraredsignals from the remote control unit 40 are received by an infraredreceiver 42. The infrared receiver 42 passes control signals to thedemodulation/tuner block 32 to control the TV channel fed to the displayapparatus 36 through the mixer 34. In addition, the infrared receiver 42feeds control signals to EPG block 38 to control the viewer's operationof the EPG. The EPG block 38 feeds a first signal to the video mixer 34for incorporation in the video signal displayed at optical output device36. The viewer may also initiate a change of channel whilst using theEPG, and therefore a second output of EPG block 38 is fed to the controlinput of the demodulation/tuner block 32.

If the viewer using the EPG initiates a context-based suggestionfunction according to the present invention, the EPG block 38 feeds thisrequest to suggestion engine 46.

The suggestion engine 46 accesses profile block 44 to acquire the viewerprofile and also accesses the EPG database 39 of EPG block 38 to acquiremetadata regarding forthcoming programs. On receiving these pieces ofinformation, the suggestion engine 46 outputs a video signal containingthe context-based suggestions to the video mixer 34 for incorporation inthe signal supplied by the video mixer 34 to the optical output device36. The output of the suggestion engine may be mixed into a separatepicture-in-picture window, or may be alternatively mixed into anexisting EPG picture-in-picture window.

The viewer may accept one of the program suggestions and navigatesthrough the EPG structure using the remote control unit 40 to signalthis acceptance. In this case, the EPG block 38 feeds a signal from itssecond output to the control input of the demodulation/tuner block 32.The demodulation/tuner block 32 tunes to the desired television channeland sends the relevant video information to the video mixer 34 fordisplay on optical output device 36.

Alternatively, the viewer may continue browsing through the EPGstructure in an attempt to locate more relevant programs. In this case,as the viewer navigates through the EPG structure, the EPG contextchanges and the suggestion engine 46 provides new suggestions.

Alternatively, the viewer may at any point exit the context-basedsuggestion function without selecting a suggested program, and operatethe television display apparatus 300 in different ways.

Examples of the type of screen displays presented to the viewer usingthe context-based suggestion function of the television displayapparatus 300 are shown in FIGS. 3A-3E. The output of the optical outputdevice 36 appears at screen 400. Screen 400 shows television programcontent 410, and, as shown in FIG. 3A, a picture-in-picture window 420displaying EPG information. As can be seen in FIG. 3A, the EPGinformation displayed in picture-in-picture window 420 provides, withinbox 422, the viewer with an option of entering the context-based programsuggestion function. If the viewer activates the context-based programsuggestion function and chooses to browse the EPG for, e.g. movies, anexample of the type of output at screen 400 which might be displayed isgiven in FIG. 3B. Together with the television program 410 and the EPGinformation window 420, a new picture-in-picture window 430 containingprogram suggestions is displayed. The user's current EPG context is“movies”, so the suggestions provided in window 430 are based on theviewer profile, and the fact that the viewer is currently looking formovies. The suggestions are therefore not restricted to movies of aparticular genre, nor a particular channel etc. unless these limitationsare included in the profile. If the viewer then chooses to browse formovies of a particular genre such as, e.g. action movies, an example ofthe type of screen displayed is given in FIG. 3C. Here, as the viewer'scontext relates to action movies, the programs suggested and displayedin window 430 are based on both the viewer profile and this new context.

Alternatively, the user may wish to browse for movies on a particularlyfavored channel. In this case, the type of output at screen 400 is shownin FIG. 3D where the suggestions provided in the window 430 relate tomovies on the channel being browsed rather than any particular genre.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3E, the viewer may wish to browse movieson a particular channel that also fall within a specific genre, and inthis case the suggestions provided in window 430 relate both to thegenre and channel of interest.

The suggestion engine essentially assesses the correlation between themetadata relating to programs falling within the currently browsedcontext of the EPG and the known viewer profile and presents suggestionsbased on the highest correlations. If, however, there is only a lowcorrelation between such metadata of the currently browsed context andthe known viewer profile, no suggestion is made. A threshold level ofcorrelation may be preset within the apparatus such that, whensuggestions which are context-based receive correlation levels belowthat threshold, no suggestions are presented.

To select a suggested program, the viewer activates the window 430 andonce browsing within the window 430, selects a suggestion in the normalway.

Thus, it has been shown how embodiments of the present invention mayprovide a wide range of relevant program suggestions to a viewer. Thepresent invention avoids suggesting programs only relevant to a viewerprofile and thereby always repeating the same suggestions.

It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that numerousvariations may be made which are still within the scope of the presentinvention, the scope of the present invention being limited only by theaccompanying claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of television program suggestioncomprising the acts of: displaying a current television program on adisplay, the current television program being displayed on an entiredisplay area of the display; displaying a user selectable suggestionmode option indicating whether a context-based program suggestionfunction is activated or deactivated; activating the context-basedprogram suggestion function by a user; in response to the activatingact, accessing a profile of a viewer and an electronic program guide(EPG) by a suggestion engine, outputting by the suggestion engine asignal containing program suggestions, and displaying the programsuggestions on the display, the program suggestions being for televisionprograms included in the EPG based on the profile and usage by theviewer of the EPG including a current location of the viewer in the EPG;displaying a first picture-in-picture window on the display includinginformation from the EPG and the suggestion mode option indicating thatthe context-based program suggestion function is activated; browsing theinformation from the EPG displayed in the first picture-in-picturewindow; in response to the activating act and the browsing act,displaying a second picture-in-picture window on the display includinginformation about the program suggestions, wherein the currenttelevision program remains on the entire display area of the display,and the first and second picture-in-picture windows are overlaid on thecurrent television program and do not contact each other leaving gapsbetween the first and second picture-in-picture windows, and wherein thecurrent television program that remains on the entire display area ofthe display with the first second picture-in-picture windows areoverlaid thereon is visible through the gaps.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein program choices which are directly accessible from the currentlocation and closely correlate with the viewer preferences from theprofile are suggested to the viewer.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein afirst suggestion provided to the viewer is a program choice from thecurrent location having a closest correlation with the viewerpreferences.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the current location inthe EPG comprises: (i) an information location relating to a particularchannel, in which case program suggestions are provided on a prioritybasis from the particular channel; or (ii) an information locationrelating to a particular time slot, in which case program suggestionsare provided on a priority basis from the particular time slot; or (iii)an information location relating to as particular program genre, inwhich case program suggestions are provided on a priority basis from theparticular program genre or a sub set of the particular program genre.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of displaying the programsuggestions displays the program suggestions in a picture-in-picturewindow.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of updatingthe program suggestions and displaying the updated program suggestionsin the second picture-in-picture window on the display whenever thecurrent location in the EPG changes.
 7. An apparatus comprising: adisplay configured to display a current television program on thedisplay, the current television program being displayed on an entiredisplay area of the display; an electronic program guide (EPG) includedin an EPG block; an interface to enable a viewer to change locations inthe EPG; a stored profile of viewer preferences stored in a memory; areceiver to receive signals including television programs andinformation relating to television programs; and a suggestion engineconfigured to provide program suggestions for television programsincluded in the EPG based on usage by the viewer of the EPG including acurrent location of the viewer in the EPG and the viewer preferences inthe stored profile, the suggestion engine being connected to the EPGblock and the memory, wherein the suggestion engine is furtherconfigured to: display a user selectable suggestion mode optionindicating whether a context-based program suggestion function isactivated or deactivated; provide the program suggestions in response toactivation by a user of the context-based program suggestion function byaccessing the stored profile and the EPG, and outputting a signalcontaining the program suggestions, display a first picture-in-picturewindow including information from the EPG and the suggestion mode optionindicating that the context-based program suggestion function isactivated, and display a second picture-in-picture window the displayincluding information about the program suggestions, wherein the secondpicture-in-picture window is displayed in response to activating thecontext-based program suggestion function and browsing the EPG; andwherein the current television program remains on the entire displayarea of the display, and the first and second picture-in-picture windowsare overlaid on the current television program and do not contact eachother leaving gaps between the first and second picture-in-picturewindows, and wherein the current television program that remains on theentire display area of the display with the first and secondpicture-in-picture windows are overlaid thereon is visible through thegaps.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the EPG stores theinformation relating to the television programs and provides theinformation relating to the television programs to the suggestionengine.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the suggestion engine isfurther configured to update the program suggestions and display theupdated program suggestions in the second picture-in-picture window onthe display whenever the current location in the EPG changes.